This paper presents the results of an investigation into the institutional issues associated with bus rapid transit including an analysis of the most important issues and suggested solution strategies that were made in response to a survey administered to members of the U.S. Bus Rapid Transit Consortium and representatives of several Canadian transit authorities who are also implementing bus rapid transit systems. Primary issues include: integrating multiple inter-jurisdictional priorities, objectives and agendas; finding a political champion who is needed to build coalitions to help promote bus rapid transit; availability of physical space to accommodate bus rapid transit operations; long term funding commitments to bus rapid transit and consistency of policies and preferences due to changes in political and transit authority administrations over time; gaining community support for transit-oriented development; creating and managing perceptions and expectations; responsibility for enforcement on bus lanes and busways; coordinating bus rapid transit implementation that is consistent with local and regional land use plans; and reaching agreement on bus stop/station area enhancements. Recommended solution strategies include strong public outreach and education, good public relations and marketing, fostering comprehensive stakeholder participation, application of a systems approach to quantify the impacts of bus rapid transit and learning from past bus rapid transit deployment experience. For the covering abstract see ITRD E209471.
Abstract